Southern California -- this just in

Nanny sues Sharon Stone, says she was fired for being paid OT

May 23, 2012 | 1:48
pm

A former live-in housekeeper and nanny for Sharon Stone filed suit against the actress in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday alleging she was fired for accepting overtime pay and repeatedly subjected to derogatory comments about her Filipino heritage and religious beliefs.

In a nine-page civil complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Erlinda T. Elemen alleges Stone made comments that equated being Filipino with being stupid. She said the actress told her not to speak in front of her children so they would "not talk like you."

The suit, which asks for an unspecified amount for unpaid wages, damages and penalties, also alleges the award-winning actress repeatedly criticized Elemen’s "deeply held religious beliefs," her frequent attendance at church and once forbade her from reading the Bible in Stone’s house even though she lived at her residence.

A key element of the suit involves accusations that Stone, best known for her roles in "Casino" and "Basic Instinct," fired Elemen after she had been paying her overtime, said the plaintiff's attorney, Solomon Gresen.

"Because abuses in overtime pay are common for household employees, it seems ironic that Ms. Stone initially did the right thing and paid Mrs. Elemen overtime wages, and then terminated her for accepting those same wages," Gresen said in a statement.

According to the suit, Elemen was hired by Stone in October 2006, working as an assistant nanny caring for one of three children of the 54-year-old actress. Two years later, Eleman was promoted to head nanny and began caring for all three children, which included extensive travel and living at Stone's home.

Elemen was fired in February 2011 when Stone learned that she was paid overtime, the suit alleges. State law requires that non-salaried employees must be paid for additional work over eight hours per day or 40 hours per week.

But the suit alleges Stone found out that her staff had paid her overtime and accused Elemen of "stealing" and that it was "illegal" for her to have taken the pay, and asked for the money back.